I was born and raised in San Francisco and took for granted the great art programs that I had in my public school and the ability to access the local museums anytime I wanted to without paying an entrance fee. I took classes at the SF De Young Museum and could wander the galleries with sketchbook in hand. Art had to take a back seat while I worked and raised a family. Now that I’ve retired and moved to Ukiah, I am able to take inspiration from the beautiful scenery and enjoy the supportive artist community. Although I started painting in oil, and still offer pet portraits in that medium, I also work in watercolor and colored pencil. Most recently, I’ve tried pastels and enjoy their texture and softness, especially when used for painting outdoors. Whatever medium I use, I strive to capture the emotional essence of what I’m painting.